January 30, 2014

The other day when all of the motorists were stranded in Atlanta I thought of my Grandpap, Karl. That is him on the right side sporting the striped pants and eye glass case in this family vacation photo from the 70's. Pap-pap Karl could be a tough old goat, but he was always insistent on doing things the right way and having the right tools for the job at hand.

For as long as I knew him there was always a blanket, a hat, and gloves in his car. You just never know when you might get stuck out somewhere and having a few things handy sure does help. I think of that every time I run out in cold or rainy weather and am tempted to not take a coat since I will be in the car or inside most of the time. That coat can be a lifesaver if you breakdown, stop to help someone else, need to change a tire, or get waylaid with an emergency or any of the other things that can happen along the road. And yes, I do keep a blanket, a hat, and gloves in my car. Smart cat, that Karl H. Ziegler.

PS: And yes, that is me on the left sporting the Chuck Taylor knockoffs from the discount store. And no, that is not a large man purse on my hip. These are my early years discovering the amazing world of photography.

January 28, 2014

I am just being a little tongue and cheek about how excited we get in The South when snow comes our way. It's a big deal. We do not have any salt or sand stored away to help deal with ice & snow. I think we have one snow plow in the county. Its name is Wally and I think Wally has been retired since 1982.

January 24, 2014

Bullying has been in the press many times the last few years. It seems no one at any age is immune to this issue. The problem has been connected to everything from suicides, to public killings, to an NFL offensive linemen leaving his team this season due to being bullied by a teammate. I even noticed network studio analysts wearing Stomp Out Bullying lapel pins during an NFL telecast last weekend. It's an old problem that is receiving more intense focus recently.

When I was in first grade we had a class bully. His name was Jim. He was bigger, taller, and more athletic than anyone else in our class. I don't know if his behavior was learned from home or somewhere else, but over the course of that school year Jim worked his way through all the boys as the new target for his bullying activity. No one wanted to be the focus of Jim's attention, especially at recess. I was a husky kid, but we all knew that none of us could match up with Jim.

My number came up with Jim at an odd time. My dad has always loved going to watch local high school football games. When I tagged along some of us grade school kids would run off for a while during the game to the playground behind the stands. This sort of play without adult supervision was fairly safe back in those days except for an occasional bump or bruise.

One Friday night I was on that playground during a game with Jim showed up. It was the first time I had seen him at one of the high school football games. He told me that he was going to beat me to a pulp. After a bit of teasing he moved in to bring the hurt. Some how, I never knew quite how, as he closed in I managed to throw the first punch and it landed square on his nose. Suddenly Jim was a mess of blood, sweat, and tears as he when running towards the stands to find his dad.

I guess over the years I have handled bullies in similar ways. Not physically, but certainly by looking to land a punch. I tend to withdraw from the situation or I strategically throw the punch of logic, or retort, or threaten to out them or embarrass them in some fashion. Or I use words to back them down and put them in what I perceive as their place. I've not been much of bystander when others are bullied and when I have intervened I've handled it with corresponding technique. In other words, if a bully is going to apply force I have applied a different type, yet powerful force.

That was my method until the other day. A good friend & business associate and I were discussing a customer that we both have had interaction with on multiple orders. This customer is a bully. The guy seems to look for problems on orders, either real or perceived, so he can chastise, threaten, attempt to embarrass, and simply tell others how smart he is in business and how stupid the other party must be. I'll admit it makes me angry. It is not how I do business so my instincts are to simply not involve myself in those orders or look for a way to put the customer in his place. With this guy I have come to believe there is no way to have any reasonable dialog or do business in a fashion that benefits all parties.

And then during this conversation my business friend says these situations are good training for him and he intended to pray for this other guy, this bully, that evening after he returned home. What? Ohhh...that one left a mark. It stopped me in my tracks.

I've spent all of this time talking and thinking about the third way that Jesus used to deal with others. He was the master at not putting force on force, not simply withdrawing, not always figuring every situation was right or wrong...left or right....up or down. Sigh. How did I miss applying this lesson to this situation? How did I l let logic and pride block allowing myself to better understand and let my faith guide my actions? Why did it take so many years to arrive to this place?

Jesus seemed to know this sort of incremental understanding would happen often with his followers. I think of how Peter got it right...got it wrong...got it right.. and then wrong, wrong, wrong, and then Jesus says on this rock, Peter, he will build his church. Really? We can get it wrong and still experience salvation? It is fair to point out after time Peter started to get it right more often than not, but still he must have had his bad moments.

On the way home last night I prayed for both of these guys, my friend and his customer. And then I prayed next time I cross paths with a bully I handle it a little more like a Jesus guy. The bully is not responsible for that. I am. And by the grace of God I can be a better man. Just one more time figuring out how the whole third way Jesus spoke of works for the situation at hand. Thanks for the lesson, my friend.

January 13, 2014

When we moved to The South Denine and I could not get over the number of blue sky days there are during the fall and winter months. It never gets old and we love it. There is something about clear blue skies that is good for body and soul. This has been our view out over the water the past two days. Fairly often I wander out the back of the house just to look at the water and sky. Or I will take a book out to the back porch where the reading is good, but the elements are better. As I said, it never gets old.

January 10, 2014

Wow! I had no idea Cleveland Browns management was so savvy until I saw this trailer. Instead of using history this movie must be a future tense proposition. It is kind of like Moneyball before it was money. Maybe it is like Jerry Mcguire without the super cute kid and Tom Cruise wanting to be a better man.

My friend John, a life long and long suffering Browns fan, says this movie would be better if it came out on April 1st. instead of April 11, 2014. Nice sense of perspective that John has. Go Browns...except when you play the Steelers!